Collar-button.



No. 63l,853. Patehfed Aug. 29," !899.=

.1. E. LECOUB.

BOLLAR BUTTON.

(Application flied A as, 1898..)

(No'ModaL) UNITED STATES PATENT Price.

JOHN E. LECOUB, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

COLLAR-BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,853, dated August 29, 1899. Application filed August 23, 1393. Serial No. 689,337. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN E. LECOUR, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vest Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Collar-Button, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collar-buttons in contradistinction to buttonshavin g catch-pins and like fastenings for positively and detachably connecting them with garments, and has for its object to prevent the collar-button from pulling out of a badly-worn buttonhole in the neckband of a shirt and securing it in proper position, whereby the strain between the collar and neckband is equalized upon opposite sides of the collar-button.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front View of a collar-button constructedin accordance with this invention, showing the same in operative relation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the collar-button in its normal position attached to the neckband of a shirt. 'Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the clasp turned back about into the position which it will occupy when placing the collar-button in position or removing it from the neckband of a shirt. Fig.4 is an elevation of the collar-button, the clasp being removed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The collar-button comprises a preferably round head 1, an elongated back 2, and a shank 3, connecting them, which flares in width toward the back. The clasp 4 is pivoted to one end of the back 2 and is adapted to operate in the space between the head 1 and back, so as to confine a portion of the neckband of a shirt between it and the said back. This clasp interlocks with the shank 3 and is prevented from outward. displacement thereby when properly applied to the neckband. The base portion of the shank 3 is flared, as stated, and is notched in its edges, as shown at 5, next adjacent to the back, so as to form projections 6 between the flaring parts and the notches to receive the free ends of the arms of the elastic clasp t and retain them in place. The points or projections 6, separating the notches 5 from the neck of the shank, have their edges sloping in opposite directions for the arms of the clasp to ride upon when applying sufficient force to move them toward or away from the back 2. The said projections are more widely separated than the members of the clasp, whereby said clasp is secured-in its nor mal position.

The claspe is of substantially U form and is constructed of a length of spring-wire having its end portions or arms bent about at right angles and extending in parallel directions farther apart than the diameter of the head 1. The closed end or bend of the clasp is j ournaled in a sleeve 7, provided at one end of the back 2 by bending or rolling a portion thereof. The end portion of the back 2, terminating in the roll or bearing-sleeve 7, is curved to one side of the back toward the head 1, as indicated at 8, thereby permitting the clasp to extend about parallel with the back 2 when turned into interlocking engagement with the shank 3.

Figsl and 2 illustrate the collar-button in its normal position or as applied to the neckband 9 of a shirt, the buttonhole 10 being worn and rent at each end and enlarged sufficiently to admit of a collar-button of ordinary construction becoming readily displaced to the inconvenience and annoyance of the wearer and possible loss of the collar-button when the collar is not worn. The head of the collar-button is thrust through the buttonhole 10 in the ordinary manner, and the clasp is turned into position upon the back 2 and grips that portion of the neckband exterior to the but- IOO clear the projections 6 they spring into the notches 5 and are retained in place until force is applied to move them away from the back 2. The clasp is of alength to admit of the end portions of its arms projecting beyond the shank 3, so as to be engaged by the finger or thumb nail,whereby the clasp may be secured or raised at will. The projecting ends of the arms are curved slightly away from the plane of the back to admit of the finger or thumb nail passing beneath them when it is required to release the clasp.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described collar-button, comprisingahead, an elongated back, a U -shaped clasp pivoted in its bend in a sleeve at one end of the back, and having parallel arms spaced wider than the diameter of the head, and a shank connecting the centers of the head and back, the upper part of the shank flaring in width toward the back, and said shank also having notches next adjacent to the back,

so as to form projections between the flaring part and the n'otches, said projections more widely separated than the arms of said clasp, whereby the clasp is secured in its normal position.

2. The herein-described collar-button, comprising a fiat back elongated in one direction, bent upward at one end and formed into a transverse sleeve, a U-shaped elastic clasp whose bend is jonrnaled in said sleeve and whose arms stand parallel over the back in its normal position, a head of less diameter than the Width of the space between said arms, and a shank connecting the centers of the head and back and having projections to engage in the normal position said arms of the clasp by the springing action of the arms.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. LECOUR.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. ONEILL, PETER ROBERTSON. 

